20 Surprise Royal Rumble Entrants Nobody Cared About

“It’s time to rumble…it’s time for the Royal Rumble! Members embrace The Present-off, Dolph Ziggler, The Recreation, Triple H, The Voice Of The WWE, Michael Cole, legendary luchador Mil Mascaras…it’s time to climb aboard the practice with The Godfather, the best Intercontinental Champion of all-time, The Honky Tonk Man, and who can overlook my long-lost son, or is that Finlay’s long-lost son, Hornswoggle…”

Because you undoubtedly learn that in your greatest Vince McMahon impression, take a deep breath. All these guys and extra are on this record. Because it’s humble beginnings in 1988, the Royal Rumble has been one of many marquee points of interest for the WWE. It alerts the start of WrestleMania season. Most of the time, the Rumble match itself is a wild hour-plus of motion.

It’s in all probability the most important night time of the yr subsequent to ‘Mania. There’s all the time shock entrants galore. A few of them garnered a number of the loudest reactions in Rumble historical past – John Cena returning in 2008, AJ Types debuting in 2016, different returns from Edge and Jericho. A number of the greatest Rumble moments are borderline magical.

These aren’t these, nevertheless. These shock entrants are fairly groan-inducing. For regardless of the cause, somebody on the reserving workforce thought these have been all good concepts. Whereas shock entrants undoubtedly have their place in a Rumble, as does the occasional sprinkling of some comedy, the purpose is often to get a response out of the gang. The one response these entrants received was apathy from the gang, questioning why on the earth they have been in there.

20 Drew Carey – 2001

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Everyone knows celebrities and wrestling go collectively like pink and black, however when the primary occasion of WrestleMania and a shot on the World Heavyweight Championship are at stake, let’s have some modicum of realism. Maintain celebrities who haven’t any athletic talent out of the Royal Rumble.

Drew Carey participating within the 2001 festivities would’ve sunk the entire occasion if not for it being the Rumble. He got here, he waived, we booed, we groaned till Kane spooked him (fortunately, he was sporting darkish pants). He might’ve been used lots higher than taking a spot from a deserving performer.

19 Dolph Ziggler – 2018

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Final yr’s previous Rumble was one for the ages. No, it didn’t match the emotional resonance of the still-greatest Rumble ever (1992), however it definitely had its moments. Shinsuke Nakamura profitable the entire thing was a very huge second and a pleasant shock for followers. The large reveal of who was No. 30? Not a lot.

A number of months earlier than being paired with Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler had grown uninterested in how he was being handled. He gained the IC title after which referred to as it quits. Whereas Ziggler wasn’t truly carried out, him returning so quickly after was actually anticlimactic, particularly within the face of being the final entrant.

18 Triple H – 2016

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After making an attempt to actually push Roman Reigns in 2015 and failing, Vince McMahon determined to go full tilt boogie on turning The Huge Canine into The Man. With a view to do this, they tried to stack the deck utterly towards him and reformed The Company in a method as a way to do it.

The 2016 Rumble set one other precedent- it was the primary time the WWE Championship was defended within the match itself. Reigns was the defending champ getting into at primary. He acquired blasted halfway via the match and walked off to take a breather. However the time “shock entrant 30,” Triple H got here down, not solely did probably the most unpredictable match turn into very predictable, nevertheless it additionally turned apparent what can be headlining WrestleMania.

17 Michael Cole – 2012

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It had been years since there was a real heel announcer on the present. Jerry Lawler was the final one, however then he began shouting “puppies,” and all of us started to like “Uncle” Jerry. So the WWE went again to the properly and had Michael Cole attempt his hand at being unlikeable. On objective.

He would conduct mount-level sermons on how superb The Miz was. For his personal safety, he had a sales space constructed specifically for him – The Cole Mine. The entire ordeal was already grating on nerves when Cole was a shock entrant within the 2012 occasion. Fortunately, Kia Stevens, aka Kharma, was the very subsequent shock entrant and she or he was a shock entrant followers have been joyful to see.

16 Mil Mascaras – 1997

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At 55 years previous on the time with over 30 years within the enterprise, Mil Máscaras was, and nonetheless is likely one of the biggest wrestlers to ever come out of Mexico. He had wrestled Celebrity Billy Graham at MSG and even Mick Foley as Cactus Jack at a Conflict Of Champions occasion. However one-third of Mexico’s huge three by no means even competed on PPV, not to mention the Royal Rumble.

Till 1997’s occasion within the Alamodome, that’s. Whereas the legend did get some cheers, the ocean of humanity within the stadium barely knew who he was. To seal the lackluster efficiency, he refused to do the job to anybody and eradicated himself as an alternative.

15 The Godfather – 2002

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Everybody loves The Godfather, proper? The fun-loving, free-wheeling character was an enormous staple of the Angle Period and in some methods embodied a whole lot of what the WWE undercard was all about on the time – brash and outlandish defiance to cultural norms.

After spending the higher of 2001 because the repressed Goodfather with Proper To Censor, it was fairly cool to see The Godfather return to his previous self on the 2002 Rumble. Nobody anticipated him to win, and he did not final lengthy, however he did spend extra time dancing with the women than competing within the ring.

14 The Lacking Macho Man – 1991

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The 1991 occasion had, for its time, one of many coolest angles surrounding the WWE Championship match. Resulting from The Final Warrior refusing to offer the Macho Man a title alternative, the Macho King unloaded his scepter proper into the Warrior’s cranium, costing him the match and the championship.

Afterward, through the Rumble, the entrant didn’t present. The announcers contemplated who it was till No. 30 had arrived after which they knew it was Savage. However to the gang in attendance and at residence, it didn’t do an entire to additional the story, and followers have been disadvantaged of an look from their king.

13 Bob Backlund – 2000

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If for some unusual cause you haven’t seen the 2000 occasion, carve out a while for your self and watch it. The PPV boasts among the best undercards the PPV has ever had. The debut of Tazz, a tables match that includes the Dudleys and the Hardys, and a riotous match between Cactus Jack and Triple H.

There’s barely a uninteresting second on this complete PPV, apart from that point the WWE dusted off Bob Backlund as a shock entrant. After the preliminary pop for the previous champion, a fair louder one was heard two minutes later when Chris Jericho dropkicked him out of the ring.

12 Haku – 2001

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How the tales of tough-as-nails Haku was and is are the stuff of legend. Should you consider them, then there’s at the very least one individual strolling the planet with out an eye fixed, because of the previous King. In WCW he was Meng, the Hardcore Champion.

For historic functions, it was a pleasant shock to see him on the 2001 Rumble. He was nonetheless the Hardcore Champion in WCW, however in basic WCW style, nobody thought to resume his contract, or get the belt off him earlier than he left. Nevertheless, to informal followers, he was simply one other old-school mid-carder who hadn’t been related in WWE in almost a decade.

11 The Honky Tonk Man – 2001

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It’s straightforward to look again on the Enlargement Period with nostalgic fondness. For lots of followers, it’s the time they turned followers. A number of the greatest early reminiscences of this time have been of watching the best Intercontinental Champion of All-Time, The Honky Tonk Man as he did his factor as an Elvis impersonator.

However by 2001, the enterprise has handed him by utterly. So whilst a shock entrant within the 2001 occasion was only a waste of roster area for somebody who labored all yr and earned. Being that this was the identical yr Drew Carey joined the fray, what do you anticipate?

10 The Godfather – 2013

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Over ten years after he stunned the world, The Godfather did it once more in 2013. Once more, his shock look was met with cheers from the male crowd that adored the women. Additionally once more, wrestling followers who have been clamoring for wrestling and bonafide attainable winners within the match simply weren’t .

The Godfather was a memorable character and an enormous a part of the Angle Period when followers wanted a quick reprieve from the primary motion. However for die-hard followers of the game of all of it, the presence of an older performer, who was a mid-carder all through his profession, wasn’t as welcomed because it as soon as was.

9 Carlos Colon – 1993

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For everybody who thinks Vince McMahon doesn’t pay tribute to the previous the best way he ought to, then you definitely’re not paying lots of consideration, particularly in the course of the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. On the 1993 occasion, not solely was Bob Backlund booked to an iron man Cinderella story, however there was an additionally an look from Carlos Colon.

A part of the difficulty with shock skills that have been actually solely widespread in a single territory is that nobody cares about them in others. Not solely had Carlos Colon seldom, if ever labored in Sacramento throughout his run, however Gorilla Monsoon comically tried to check with him as a teenager. Colon was in his mid-40s by the point he made his shock entrance, which was lower than memorable.

eight Jerry Lawler – 2012

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It is beautiful that Michael Cole truly lasted longer than Jerry Lawler within the 2012 occasion. An announcer who by no means noticed in-ring motion a day in his life lasted longer than probably the most beloved sports activities entertainers of all time.

Nobody would have ever anticipated the King to win the 2012 occasion and even last more than a couple of minutes. However after lower than a minute he was gone. Some individuals deserve slightly bit higher than a 43-second look within the largest match of the yr. Then once more, he did have to get again to the commentator’s desk.

7 The Squat Staff – 1996

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There was an entire lot of beef within the ring in the course of the 1996 Royal Rumble when Vader and Yokozuna have been within the ring. So why not toss a humongous tag group, The Headhunters, into the equation? The 2 mountains of males got here out to little or no fanfare in any respect.

Why debut a tag group like this? They didn’t do something besides each get eradicated in much less time than it took to make a Scorching Pocket. There was clearly no plan for them, in any other case, they could have completed extra with them than reserving them as fast fodder for different monsters.

6 Hiroki Sumi – Biggest Royal Rumble 2018

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2018 marked the primary yr multiple Royal Rumble occasion was held. The corporate despatched an entire lot of their personnel midway the world over. They wanted as many as potential, as they placed on the most important Royal Rumble in firm historical past, with 50 entrants, breaking the 2011 document of 40. Fifty wrestlers in complete competed in an extended, grueling contest, albeit not for a WrestleMania title match.

Certainly one of them was a shock nobody was anticipating, nobody requested for, and nobody actually cared about, at the very least on this aspect of the globe. Grand Sumo Champion, Hiroki Sumi could be revered in Japan and may need been an superior sight for the reside crowd, however was a waste of time for the remainder of the world.

5 Rey Mysterio – 2014

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Whether or not the WWE needed to confess it or not, there was no plan in place for Daniel Bryan and the Sure Motion to take over the Royal Rumble and afterward, WrestleMania. It’s supposedly one of many major causes CM Punk give up. The corporate additionally fed Rey Mysterio to the wolves because the 30th entrant.

The 2014 match was kind of a one-hour marathon Daniel Bryan chant by the gang. You’d assume the WWE would have been sensible to name an audible and experience the wave. However as an alternative, they tried to carry firmly to their plans. This meant the thunderous chants solely obtained louder as quantity 30 was about to return out. By no means earlier than was Rey Mysterio the most important heel on the planet, and it wasn’t even his fault.

four The Bounty Hunters – 1994

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Just like 20 years later in 2014, so far as the followers have been involved, 1994 was Bret Hart’s yr, however the firm was pushing Lex Luger actually onerous down our collective gullets. Because the 1994 Royal Rumble got here alongside, Mr. Fuji provided a bounty on Lex Luger’s head to make sure he wasn’t going to be dealing with Yokozuna at WrestleMania X.

Perhaps if he employed some greater names than Tenryu and the Nice Kabuki he may need succeeded. However these guys have been each fairly “meh” type of offers, even Kabuki, who had fame in World Class however had seen his greatest days.

three Hornswoggle – GRR 2018

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It’s all the time an enormous pop when that acquainted jingle hits and the diminutive Hornswoggle costs in the direction of the ring, however sufficient is sufficient already. The man isn’t even on the lively signed roster anymore. He’s not going to be profitable any Royal Rumble anytime quickly – until they discover sufficient little individuals for that Rumble.

Clearly, they embrace him in matches just like the Biggest Royal Rumble. Fifty guys they usually determine to offer a payday to an ex-employee. The gang wasn’t that receptive to the man, both. At a sure level, everybody was simply ready for somebody to throw him out and transfer on.

2 Jimmy Snuka – 2008

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Earlier than the WWE actually obtained going, Jimmy Superfly Snuka was a god amongst males. Madison Sq. Backyard was his cathedral. However that was a really very long time in the past. So when got here out as a shock in the course of the 2008 occasion, the thunderous ovation wasn’t a lot of a thunderous ovation that Snuka usually acquired.

The gang, regardless of being a New York crowd with loads of nostalgia, wasn’t into the shock in any respect till one entrant later when Roddy Piper made his look and all the match stopped simply to observe the 2 legends get it on. However earlier than Piper confirmed up, Snuka’s cathedral was quiet.

1 Vickie Guerrero – 2018

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Vickie Guerrero was an awesome heel with terrific mic expertise and timing. She has definitely earned her area within the enterprise as extra than simply Eddie’s widow. However being a visitor within the first ever Ladies’s Royal Rumble was a spot that ought to’ve been given to a lady who truly is aware of how one can work matches.

Three full rosters full of girls and a Efficiency Middle filled with up and comers. Heck, they might’ve purchased Vickie again and have her convey her daughter Shaul (fka Raquel Diaz) together with her to work the match. In both occasion, at the very least it wasn’t James Ellsworth in a wig.